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Wealth Accumulation v. Wealth Distribution
A Business Week article recently described predators that prey on early retirees.
Many retirees and pre-retirees are woefully unprepared for the shift from "wealth accumulation," or saving and investing, to "wealth distribution," or drawing down those assets throughout their golden years. If the Me Generation isn't careful, it could become the Poor-Me Generation. Over the next 20 years, a record $17 trillion will move from pension funds and 401(k) accounts into the hands of freshly minted retirees. Not surprisingly, that money pot—and the fat asset management fees it will generate—has financial-services firms salivating.
Aggressive investment brokers are focusing on that yawning gap between perception and reality. Promising early retirement, fat investment returns, and big annual cash withdrawals, they're increasingly succeeding at seducing investors to turn over their retirement accounts—and then putting them in high-fee and often inappropriate investments.
In many fraud cases, brokers seek to take advantage of a little-known tax loophole that allows investors to tap into their 401(k) or other retirement accounts without penalty before they reach 591/2. Under IRS rule 72(t), enacted in 1974, investors can withdraw money from their tax-free accounts if they commit to take out the same amount each month for at least five years. "Clients get lulled into the belief that because this is a government exemption, these [moves] are blessed by the IRS," says Frederick Rosenberg, an attorney in East Hanover, N.J., who specializes in such cases. "Nobody ever shows you that there's more than a 50% chance you'll be destitute."
If you are have suffered losses you may be able to recover through securities fraud attorney Howard M. Rosenfield. Call us at 800-637-3243 for a FREE & CONFIDENTIAL claim evaluation to discuss your investment loss recovery options.
Securities fraud lawyer Howard M. Rosenfield represents investors nationwide in securities arbitration and litigation matters. To learn more about the Firm’s securities litigation and FINRA arbitration practice, please visit www.stockbrokerproblems.com.
